An emotional Elbert Jefferson defended his tenure as city attorney this morning.
Jefferson, who was fired by Mayor Pro Tem Myron Lowery on Friday, said he had been a good attorney for the citizens of Memphis and that Lowery's termination of him without City Council approval violated the City Charter.
"I am a capable attorney," said Jefferson to a crowd of media following a morning committee meeting. "I've done everything the right way."
Lowery says he fired Jefferson because of soaring fees paid to outside attorneys over the past few years. Between 2006 and 2009, city spending on outside legal, consulting and lobbying contracts jumped to nearly $8 million, an increase of more than 100 percent. Lowery has also said the legal division needed "better leadership."
Jefferson, at times coming close to tears, said Lowery's accusation that he was an ineffective attorney and that he was possibly destroying documents over the weekend have deeply hurt him.
Jefferson said his long hours of work for the taxpayers cost him his marriage.
"I'm divorced now," he said.
Lowery wants former U.S. Atty. Veronica Coleman-Davis to replace Jefferson. He named Coleman-Davis deputy division director of the legal department Monday. The full council will vote on whether to fire Jefferson this afternoon.
Jefferson offered his resignation last month to former mayor Willie Herenton, who refused it. Jefferson would not explain why he wanted to resign under Herenton but not Lowery.
If the council does not agree to Lowery's termination of Jefferson, Lowery could suspend him, something Jefferson said he expects to happen.
Al Capon was a good used furnature salesman.
Al Capon was a good used furnature salesman.
for a guy who used to be a tv personality and communications specialist, myron could not have handled this more ineptly on the pr front. voters are so sick and so tired of constant drama at city hall. people are suffering in our city while myron's on a personal political vendetta. glad we won't have to put up with this childish nonsense for more than three months.
Good????? - Right - Good for nothing!!!!!
Elbert should have thought about all that before.Sniveling wuss! Who's the bigshot now?
Anyone that won't pay their property taxes should not be an employee of the city government.
Hmmmm, W.W.H. WOULD NOT accept Mr. Jefferson's resignation, but he didn't want out of the job under Lowery? Please, CA, find out why this guy seems to SUDDENLY want to retain his job.
Get this crook and the rest of them out of here.
I wonder if Mayor Lowery would have had the guts to fire the crooked elbert if he didn't already put in a resignation with the last crooked mayor??
Jefferson was a good attorney for whatever Willie wanted not what was good for the city.
Have some pride Elbert and go quietly into the night, you're no longer needed or wanted in city government. Drop your ridiculous lawsuit against Lowery, he was acting as Mayor and well within his right to fire you.
Your lawsuit against Lowery is a sham and if the Council does not affirm your firing they will prove what a sham they are.
get dat cry baby out of da building. the city don't need some no roller in there sleeping on the job